Hi Mickey,yup,same probs on Hols uncovered,and yup stayed at Platanes,quite nice,one long street,lots of shops and tavernas,reasonably priced.Rethymno no too far,a nice place to wander round the old town in the evening.Long sandy beach at Platanes leads all the way to Rethymno.Traffic rent a car pretty good if you want to drive,worth doing as there is so much to explore in Crete,turn inland from the coast and you will soon discover the real Crete!
And no doubt you will be given a glass of the real Cretan fire-water before long-Raki,wonderful stuff,but DONT mix it with other drinks!